Local

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
The bookkeeper of a local charity was tracked down and arrested by Alabama authorities this week in connection with stealing more than $4,000 from her employer.
Christy Leeann Ellis, 31, 3283 Camp Creek Road, was arrested Tuesday, May 8, by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Auburn, Ala., on five counts of forgery, each less than $10,000, said Kathryn Richardson, spokeswoman for the S.C. Law Enforcement Division.

– Editor’s note: In the next four issues, The Lancaster News will profile students who have overcome the odds to earn a high school diploma in 2012.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
Buddy Steele knows a good deal about gold mining.
The Andrew Jackson High School senior effortlessly rambles off statistics and terminology tied to the mining industry. For him, phrases such as ore body, rig drilling and sample testing are everyday language.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
School District Superintendent Dr. Gene Moore stood before a crowded Fairway Room at the Lancaster Country Club on Monday, April 30, and set up the intro for this year’s Good Citizenship Award winner.
The winner was chosen from a pool of other elementary school student nominees based on his school year demonstration of honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism, Moore said.
The student represents the best of Lancaster County schools.

Gregory A. Summersgsummers@thelancasternews.com
The congregations of one dozen area churches will join hands and hearts Thursday, May 17, and bag sweet potatoes to feed local families.
And if your church wants to help, there’s plenty of room, plenty of potatoes to bag and box and plenty of blessings to enjoy, said volunteer Jack Carnes.
After all, he said the people of the church have the spirit of Jesus, and what good is it if you can’t pass it along? Besides, Carnes said Scripture teaches the church to feed the hungry.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
Indian Land Elementary School dedicated a new track Monday, May 7, in memory of late coach Mike Kersey.
Kersey, the school’s beloved physical education teacher and coach of the Indian Land High and Middle school wrestling teams, died Oct. 4, 2011, of injuries sustained in an ATV accident.
The dedication of the Coach Mike Kersey Memorial Track took place during a short ceremony attended by Kersey’s family, along with students, faculty, wrestlers and community members.

Staff Reports
The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office is investigating a late Wednesday, May 9, shooting that left one man dead and another one critically injured.
According to a release, deputies responded to a reported shooting at 2314 Old Blackmon Lane at 11:13 p.m. Wednesday. A male was in the driveway of the residence. He was pronounced dead and has not been identified, the release said. Deputies also found a 25-year-old wounded man inside the house on the living room floor.

What do world-renowned athletes, proud Olympic torchbearers and a Lancaster manufacturing company all have in common?

As it turns out, all will make their mark on this year’s Summer Olympics in London.

The Cooley Group, a mass producer of polyethylene-based print media products such as billboards and signage, announced Monday, May 7, that its latest product will completely wrap the brand-new Olympic Stadium.